The Friday Find – Turkish…Bacon?
While living abroad, the biggest shock to my system has been getting used to not having the food I used to eat regularly while eating foods I never new existed until arriving in Turkey. One thing I’ve done to lessen the culture shock is to find foods in Turkey that resemble some of my favorite foods back home. One of my favorites is Pastirma (Pahs-teer-ma), or what I lovingly call, Turkish... [Read more]
The man they call Mevlana
Come, come whoever you are. Wanderer, idolater, worshipper of fire, Come even though you have broken your vows a thousand times Come, and come yet again. Ours is not a caravan of despair. -Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi (1207-1273 A.D.) During one week in December, thousands of pilgrims made their way to see the Sema, a ritual that is over 1,000 years old. Performed by the Mevlevi, also known as the... [Read more]
An apocalyptic history
Two weeks ago, I started a trip through Turkey’s green and olive tree laden shores, the Aegean coast. When the New Testament was written and assembled, the land was also known as Asia Minor and a major center for the Roman Empire. With over 300 miles of coast, the region proved to be one of the most fruitful and temperate ares of the known world. Empires have continuously fought over this... [Read more]
“Scarves in schools” debate continues in Turkey
(This article was first published on February 9, 2010 for the Study Abroad section at Global Post. View the original article here.) KAYSERI, TURKEY— With one foot inching toward Europe and the other firmly rooted in Islam, Turkish women wear societal friction not on their sleeves, but on their heads. Headscarves, worn by more than half the female population, are a red flag in Turkish society —... [Read more]
The holy city of Antioch
Driving into Antakya, Turkey with my friends Jason and Rodney, I saw more Arabic and Middle East influences than any where else in Turkey. The signs of Humusci’s (Hommus Makers) are scattered throughout the city. Kunefe, a traditional Arab dessert, was found everywhere, and was some of the best in Turkey according to Rodney who “lived on it” in Iraq. With only about 30 miles between... [Read more]